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BOAT BUDGETS

Taking ownership and responsibility for a boat, regardless of size, requires much planning. Some of the most frequently over looked or under estimated aspects of this planning involves estimating the resources required to maintain a vessel. There are many factors which will influence an operation and maintenance budget estimate. For instance:

1. boat schedule;
2. size;
3. engineering systems aboard;
4. top speed,
5. operational environment; and,
6. geographic location,

will all play a role in determining what represents "adequate" resources to safely maintain and operate a boat. A rough rule of thumb can be applied to most boats, based on size, as follows:

Trailerable boats: $100/foot of length

Non trailerable boats: $1000/foot of length

The specific items that are included, or must be considered, when attempting to estimate the cost of owning and operating a research motorboat or small research vessel are provided in the table below. This list does not present items that must be aboard every vessel, it is intended to spur the thought process and provide an idea of what MAY be required equipment aboard a research boat. Many of these costs are inherent to the operation of qualified Class II motorboats and larger craft. The typical "open boat" with an outboard motor, operated on a day basis wouldn't be subject to many of these criteria/items.